Who Is Sonam Wangchuk? The Activist Inspiring India's Gen Z

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk went on a hunger strike for three weeks to protest exam paper leaks in India. The leaks hurt millions of students who had studied hard for important national tests. After three weeks without food, police in Delhi moved him to a hospital. His sacrifice made him a hero to many young Indians, especially members of Generation Z — people born in the late 1990s and 2000s.

Wangchuk is nearly 60 years old, but young people across India have rallied behind him. He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's education minister resign because of the exam leaks. His hunger strike turned a school testing scandal into a national movement. Supporters compared him to Mahatma Gandhi, the famous leader who helped India win independence through peaceful protest.

Wangchuk is not new to fighting for big causes. He was born in 1966 in a small, remote village called Ulaytokpo in Ladakh, a high-altitude desert region in the Himalayas near China. When he was just 19, he ran a tutoring program that helped hundreds of students learn English and math. He later started the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh to help more young people in the region.

Over the years, Wangchuk worked on solving water problems caused by climate change. He built 'ice stupas' — cone-shaped artificial glaciers that store water in winter and slowly melt in summer to water crops. These creative structures earned him the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018, which is often called Asia's Nobel Prize. The award recognized his work in education and water conservation.

In recent years, Wangchuk became a strong voice for protecting Ladakh's environment and giving the region more self-rule. Ladakh is currently controlled by India's central government, and many residents want it to become a full state with more local power. Wangchuk was jailed for nearly six months in 2025 after violent protests broke out over this issue. He denied starting or encouraging the violence.

Many people lovingly call him 'Sonam Sir.' His first name means 'merit' or 'virtue' in some cultures, which fits his reputation well. Bollywood actors and citizens from all over India sent him video and text messages of support during his hunger strike. He is also widely believed to have inspired the lead character in a hit Bollywood film, making him famous well beyond Ladakh.

Wangchuk has said he was ready to die for his causes if needed. He told the news agency Reuters that his fast could last six weeks 'unless he died first.' He added that he hoped the government would act before things went that far. 'A sensitive government in a democracy listens to the pain of its people, and I hope they will take action,' he said.

Despite the pressure, India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan did not respond to requests for comment. Wangchuk said that getting the minister to resign would bring accountability — meaning people in power would have to answer for their mistakes. He also said it would help rebuild people's trust in democracy. 'At least, this will help restore trust in democracy,' Wangchuk said.